Diaper with waist band elastic

ABSTRACT

Disposable garments such as disposable diapers are disclosed that possess improved elastic characteristics. At least one garment outer sheet is composed of a drawable fabric, such as melt blown polymeric fibers or melt spun filaments. An elastic element is affixed in the relaxed condition to a web of outer sheet fabric. The elastic web is then stretched, and simultaneously the web in the area of elastic element attachment is drawn to impart a molecular orientation to the web fibers. As a result, the web fibers are permanently elongated. Upon relaxation of the stretched elastic element, shirrs or gathers are formed in the web fibers that permit subsequent stretching of the elastic element when the garment is worn. One of the outside sheet webs need not be drawable or drawn if it is performed with corrugations or pleats in the region of elastic element attachment. The present invention also includes apparatus for manufacturing the garment. The apparatus includes novel rolls for pre-corrugating one garment sheet and for simultaneously stretching the elastic element and drawing web in the region of elastic element attachment. Alternately, the entire web may be drawn, rather than just in the region of elastic element attachment.

This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 043,255, filedon Apr. 27, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,741.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

This invention pertains to conformable garments, and more particularlyto disposable garments having selected elasticized portions for gentlyholding the garment to the wearer's body.

2. Description of the Prior Art.

Disposable diapers of the type using elastic elements for leg and waistbands have come into widespread use during recent years. Such usage canbe attributed to the improved fit and leakage prevention provided by theelastic gathers on the diapers.

Disposable diapers, incontinence briefs, and similar products aretypically composed of three major components. The first component is atop sheet that forms the inside or facing of the garment and is placednext to the wearer's skin. The second component is a back sheet thatforms the exterior or backing layer of the garment. The third componentis an absorbent pad that is interposed between the top sheet and theback sheet. The top sheet and back sheet are relatively inelastic.Fastening tapes for holding the garment on the wearer are commonlyemployed.

The elastic leg and waist elements are typically applied in directionsperpendicular to each other on the diaper. The set of elastic elementsfor the crotch are applied in a longitudinal direction with respect tothe unfolded diaper. The second set of elastic elements for the waistarea are applied in a transverse direction with respect to the unfoldeddiaper.

The elastic elements may be affixed to the other diaper components ineither an extended or relaxed condition. Previous teachings in the arthave concentrated on securing the elastic elements to the other diapercomponents while the elastic elements are in the extended or stretchedcondition. Examples of disposable diapers manufactured by affixingstretched elastic bands to a web of suitable diaper material aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,324,245; 4,336,803; 4,337,771; 4,352,355;4,486,192; 4,500,316; and 4,507,163. However, the combination of thecomplexity of the diaper construction and the intricacy of the machineryrequired to affix stretched elastic bands in the manufacturing processresults in production problems and high machine maintenance costs.Moreover, the intense quest for improvements in disposable diapers makesit increasingly difficult to simplify the machinery for attachingstretched elastic bands to the other diaper components.

Alternately, one of the diaper components can be contracted bycorrugating or pleating it and then affixing the elastic element to thecomponent in a relaxed or unstretched condition. U.S. Pat. No. 381,781discloses an example of an elastic waist diaper in which the elasticband is attached in a relaxed condition. The diaper shown in the U.S.Pat. No. 4,381,781 is not satisfactory, because the inelastic facing andbacking require openings in the top sheet and back sheet. An elasticmaterial is secured to the top sheet or back sheet or both and isdisposed in the openings. The elastic layer material presents a rawsurface to the wearer's skin rather than a smooth top sheet, and thuscan be a source of skin irritation.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,595 shows an example of a diaper construction inwhich the elastic member may be attached in either the stretched orrelaxed condition. The top sheet is corrugated at the regions of bandattachment thereto. If the corrugations are not completely pulled outwhen the diaper is put on the wearer, the remaining corrugations couldbe a source of abrasion to the skin.

Thus, a need exists for disposable garments having elastic elements thatare applied to the other garment components in a manner which eliminatesthe problems associated with prior elasticized garments and whichprovides better fitting garments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a disposable diaper, andapparatus and methods for making it, are provided that greatly simplifythe imparting of elastic characteristics to selected regions of thediaper. This is accomplished by the use of drawable polymeric webs incombination with elastic elements that are affixed to the web when theelastic elements are in the relaxed condition.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved andeconomical disposable diaper, incontinent brief, or other conformablegarment that overcomes the disadvantages of prior garments.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus and methodsfor manufacturing the improved conformable garment on an economical andhigh speed continuous production basis.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a disposablediaper having elastic elements secured to a drawable top sheet or to adrawable back sheet or both.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide a disposablediaper having a facing or a backing or both with elastic elementsaffixed thereto with no protuberances on the facing or backing thatcould contact and abrade the wearer's skin during normal body movements.The instant invention is based on a method of applying relaxed elasticelements to an uncorrugated moving web and subsequently enlarging orincreasing the area of elasticization by stretching the elastic element,which upon relaxing forms shirrs, gathers, or puckers in the web.Depositing and affixing elastic elements in a fluid or solid state tomoving uncorrugated webs and subsequently stretching the elastic and webcomposite, as a laminate, to draw, molecularly orient, permanentlyelongate and increase web area, greatly simplifies the productionequipment and manufacturing problems.

The above and other objects of the invention are accomplished byimparting elastic characteristics to relatively inelastic drawablefacing or backing webs through the use of drawable fibers, films,filaments, or combinations thereof that, when drawn, impart molecularorientation to the polymeric web thereby permanently elongating andincreasing the areas subjected to drawing. The term "relativelyinelastic drawable web" is defined herein as a polymeric fiber, film, orfilament form which after being stretched as by incremental stretchingthrough toothed rollers or by pairs of draw rolls along the fiber, film,or filaments to 150% or more of the original length (for example,stretched from 1 to 11/2" or more) at a temperature between the glasstransition temperature of the polymer and the polymer's melting range orpoint or crystalline melting temperature and after subsequent releaseresults in a permanent elongation due to molecular orientation of thefibers, filaments, or film equal to 25% or more of the stretch applied.If the polymer has more than one glass transition temperature it ispreferred to use the glass transition temperature limit resulting in themost efficient molecular orientation, which is generally the highestglass transition temperature of the polymer, the polymer being toofragile and brittle at lower temperature.

Elastic elements such as elastic bands, ribbons, sheets, films,filaments, fibrous webs, and the like are affixed to the relativelyinelastic drawable web while in the relaxed or unstretched condition.The term "elastic" as used herein refers to sheets, films, ribbons,filaments, fibrous webs, and the like that have recovery of at least 50%after being stretched along the fiber, filament, or web at roomtemperature to 150% or more of the original length (for example, from 1to 11/2" or more). The elastic elements are normally relatively long andnarrow, and they are usually applied to the web so as to be eitherlongitudinal or transverse with respect to the direction of the webtravel through the diaper making machine, i.e., the machine direction.Elastic material may also be in film, fluid, solid, ribbon, non-woven,or woven web form in addition to rolls.

The term "visco-elastic hot melt" as used herein is defined to be anelastomeric thermoplastic solid that can be melted or extruded attemperatures above 20° C. to 40° C. The term "pressure sensitiveadhesive" as used herein refers to adhesives that bond almostinstantaneously when mating surfaces are subjected to pressures forcingthem together, such as H. B. Fuller Company's elastic pressure sensitiveadhesive sold under the tradename "Fullastic"™.

The terms "visco-elastic hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive,""self-adhering composition," "self-adhering elastic," "elastic pressuresensitive adhesive" are used interchangably and as herein defined areelastic materials which adhere to garment materials and the like, suchas paper, cloth, plastic materials, films, filaments, fibers, etc., uponcontact or with the use of pressure.

Thermoplastic rubbers suitable for extrusion include Shell ChemicalCompany's Kraton 2000 and 3000 Series, GX-2701, and other Kratonrubbers; DuPont's thermoplastic elastomer Alcryn; B. F. Goodrich'sthermoplastic polyurethanes; Upjohn's thermoplastic polyurethanes; J.Von's thermoplastic elastomers; Stevens, thermoplastic film; MearthaneProducts polyurethane elastomers; visco-elastic hot melt pressuresensitive adhesives such as are manufactured by the H. B. FullerCompany; and polyurethanes such as Texin 480A from Mobay ChemicalCompany.

The above elastomers are suitable for imparting elasticity to arelatively inelastic drawable or molecularly orientable substrate, butthe present invention is not limited to those materials, for any elasticthermoplastic material that is soft and flexible is suitable, includingnatural and synthetic and vulcanized rubbers. The elastic thermoplasticmaterial may be supplied to a machine assembly station in roll or bulkform, or it may be extruded through suitable dies. The elastomers may beautogenously bonded to the substrate using only heat and pressure, orthey may be fusioned or self-bonded to the substrate immediatelysubsequent to their extrusion or they may be co-extruded with a suitableadhesive.

In addition to self-bonding, autogenous bonding, and fusion bonding, theelastic ribbons may be secured to a web with adhesives, some of whichare listed below. The adhesives may be either of the flexible or rigidtype, depending on the manner of application, such as line,intermittent, dot, dash, or any other suitable configuration.

The elastic ribbons may be applied with applicators, both hot and cold.They may be extruded and co-extruded whereby they are extruded with oneor both of the materials to be bonded to each other. Suitable adhesivesare pressure sensitive, cold adhesives, hot melts, releasable adhesives,and pressure sensitive hot melts. Some of the manufacturers supplyingsuitable adhesives are as follows: Eastman Chemical Co., Hot MeltAdhesive No. 13375; H. B. Fuller Co., Hot Melt Adhesive No. HM1533;Shell Chemical Co., Kraton; Rohm & Haas Co., Hot Melt HA-7981, but theinstant invention is not limited to the use of the foregoing materials.

Another embodiment of the present invention involves the use ofco-extrusion dies for simultaneously extruding an elastomeric polymerand adhesive, as is disclosed in co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser.No. 530,544, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,384.

After the elastic elements have been attached to the web, the web issubjected to drawable tension at a drawing station of the diaper makingapparatus or in use on a wearer. The drawing apparatus may draw the webat selected isolated discrete areas of elastic element attachment, orthroughout the entire web. The drawing may be in either the machinedirection, transverse thereto, or at an oblique angle. Drawing of theweb may be accomplished according to the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No.4,223,063, which is incorporated by reference herein. Drawing the webmolecularly orients the fibers thereof, thereby increasing the web areaand resulting in a permanent elongation of the web fibers. The drawingprocess that increases the web area also stretches or extends theelastic element secured to the web. The stretched elastic element anddrawn web then leave the drawing station and enter an assembly station,where the elastic elements and/or the drawn web are bonded to a secondweb. Upon leaving the assembly station, the web is severed to create theindividual diapers or other products, and the elastic elements stretchedin the longitudinal direction relax to form shirrs or gathers in thepermanently elongated web fibers. Fiber and film drawing and elasticelement stretching may also occur in the transverse direction.Transversely stretched elastic elements relax and form web shirrs orgathers upon leaving the drawing station and prior to entering theassembly station. Fiber film and filament drawing and elastic elementstretching also occur during use by the wearer. In either case, the webdimensions are increased by a combination of drawing the fibers and arealignment of the fibers.

In carded webs where there is a predominance of fibers and/or filamentsin the longitudinal direction, a lateral increase in area by stretchingthe affixed elastic element is accompanied by a larger percentage offiber realignment and a corresponding lesser percentage of drawing andpermanent elongation of web fibers or filaments than in a random laidweb (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,063, col. 6). As the fiber laydownorientation in the longitudinal direction becomes more predominant, agreater percentage of drawn fibers may be used to obtain a satisfactoryarea increase of the elastic element attachment area subsequent tostretching the elastic in the lateral direction. With a highfiber-filament laydown in the longitudinal direction or the properaperture pattern in the hydraulic entanglement process, using fullydrawn fibers, the elastic element attachment area can be stretchedlaterally to the extent that the top sheet area in at least the elasticelement attachment area is enlarged to 11/2 to 12 times its unstretchedarea.

The terms "shirred," "gathered," "puckered", "corrugated," "pleated,""shriveled" and "shrunk" are used interchangably and are used todescribe the condition of a molecularly oriented web, film, fiber orfilament after an attached elastic element is stretched, thereby drawingthe web, and subsequently relaxed or the condition of a web after havingbeen passed through a pair of corrugating rolls. The terms "draw" and"molecular orientation" are used interchangably.

Since the elastic elements are secured to the web in a relaxedcondition, the elastic element length, widths, shapes, and thicknessescan be varied with minimum apparatus changeover. Such flexibilitygreatly enhances the design of disposable garments such as diapers,incontinent briefs, and the like having contractable cuffs, elasticizedwaist bands, and other conformable features desirable in disposablegarments.

The top sheet for disposable diapers is usually made from a fibrous andhydrophobic non-woven fabric that is composed of drawn fibers orfilaments and is permeable to fluids. It is a feature of the presentinvention that the top sheet can be composed of fibers, filaments, orperforated films that are drawable to a molecular orientation thatresults in a permanent elongation during diaper manufacture or duringdiaper use. Any fiber or filament that is at least partially drawable issuitable. Polymers suitable for the top sheet include polyolefins,polyesters, and polyamides, but the top sheet is not limited to thosematerials. Mixtures and blends of various polymers and copolymers can beused if the mixture is drawable. Carded webs of mixtures of drawable anddrawn fibers are suitable provided sufficient drawable fibers areavailable for drawing the web after elastic element attachment.

In another embodiment, the drawable web is drawn in two or more steps toproduce two or more degrees of molecular orientation in the web, therebyincreasing the strength, drapability, softness, and other aestheticproperties of the completed garment or article. The first or initialdraws or molecular orientations of the polymeric web may be appliedduring the manufacture of the web while extruding the film or while meltblowing or melt spinning the fibers and/or filaments. The additionaldraws or molecular orientations are preferably applied to the drawableweb during the article manufacture on converting equipment such asdiaper or garment making machines, or on application to a wearer.Alternately all the drawing steps can be performed on the convertingequipment.

The additional or secondary draws may be applied to the entire web or atleast in the areas of attachment of the elastic elements thereby formingshirrs or gathers in the web or article of manufacture. The firstdrawing operation, preferably molecularly, orients the drawable web todraw values in the range of 0.05% to 85% of the maximum draw to whichthe particular polymeric web can be subjected to or more preferably todraw values in the range of 5% to 45% of the maximum draw. The final orsecondary draws can increase the molecular orientation, at least in theareas of elastic element attachment, to values in a range varying from10% to 100% of the maximum draw to which the particular polymeric webcan be subjected. The various webs and polymers have large variations inthe total molecular orientation to which they can be subjected. Themaximum draw to which a polymeric web can be subjected is herein definedas "the maximum molecular orientation which can be applied to aparticular polymeric web without subjecting the web or article todestructive breaking, rupturing, or tearing." In some webs, especiallythose containing non-drawable elements in blends or mixtures of polymersor filaments, or webs containing non-drawable fibers or filaments, it isdesirable to controllably draw and rupture certain elements in a web toobtain certain characteristics as softness and various porosities,especially in discrete and isolated areas of the web.

Other objects, aims and advantages of the invention will become apparentupon reading the detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of a disposable diapermanufactured according to the present invention, the disposable diaperbeing shown in a flat condition;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of apparatus for producing a disposablediaper having elastic waist bands according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial top view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along lines 4--4 of FIG. 3, but showing thedrawing and stretching rolls rotated 180°;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stretch rolls of FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the elasticelement in the expanded condition and the disposable diaper top sheetand back sheet in the drawn condition:

FIG. 9 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 7 and 8, but showing thepreviously stretched elastic element in the relaxed condition and thedrawn top sheet and back sheet in the gathered condition;

FIGS. 10a and 10b are views similar to FIG. 9 but showing alternateconstructions for affixing the top sheet and back sheet to the elasticelement;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper back sheetaccording to a modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of a modified embodiment of theapparatus for making the disposable diaper with elastic waist bandsaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a partial top view of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of theapparatus for manufacturing the disposable diaper with elastic waistband according to the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a partial top view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of theapparatus for manufacturing the disposable diaper with elastic waistband according to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a partial top view of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment of theapparatus for manufacturing the disposable diaper with elastic waistband according to the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a partial top view of the apparatus of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a schematic side view of a further modified apparatus formanufacturing the disposable diaper with elastic waist band according tothe present invention;

FIG. 21 is a partial top view of the apparatus of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a schematic side view of a further modified apparatus formanufacturing the disposable diaper with elastic waist band according tothe present invention;

FIG. 23 is a partial top view of the apparatus of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper back sheetaccording to a further modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of a partially completed disposable diapermanufactured according to the apparatus of FIGS. 12 and 13;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged view taken along lines 26--26 of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 25, but showing thedisposable diaper at a subsequent step in the manufacturing process;

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a disposable diaper with a portion ofthe top sheet removed;

FIG. 29 is a plan view of a diaper chain showing the placement ofelastic bands; and

FIG. 30 is a schematic side view of a further modified embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable thoseskilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodimentsherein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied inother specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in theclaims appended hereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, an elasticized conformable garment 1 is illustratedthat includes the present invention. The garment will be described interms of a disposable diaper, but it will be understood that theinvention is not limited to human incontinence applications.

The components of the disposable diaper 1 include a back sheet 3 havinglongitudinally opposed waist regions 5 and an intermediate crotch region7. The crotch region 7 is formed with symmetrical leg cutouts 9, as isknown in the art, to give the back sheet 3 a generally hour glassoutline. The diaper further comprises a top sheet 11 that has an outlinesubstantially identical to that of the back sheet. The top sheet 11 isplaced on top of and is bonded to the back sheet. A pad 35 of absorbentmaterial, having a generally hour glass outline 13 is interposed betweenthe top sheet and back sheet. To aid holding the garment on the wearer,waist tape tabs 15 may be secured to one of the back sheet waist regions5. An elastic band 41 is bonded transversely at each end of the diaperwaist region, and another elastic band 42 is bonded longitudinally alongthe margins 17 of the cutout leg regions 9. The terms "waist band" and"elastic waist band" are used interchangably, and the terms "leg band"and "elastic leg band" are also used interchangably.

In accordance with the present invention, the elastic propertiesassociates with the elastic bands 41 and 42 are imparted to the waistregions 5 and leg regions 9, respectively, of the garment 1 in a greatlyimproved and simplified manner relative to prior garments For thatpurpose, the top sheet 11 is a fibrous fluid permeable preferablyhydrophobic non-woven fabric composed of undrawn or partially drawnfibers or filaments that, when drawn, become molecularly oriented so asto be permanently elongated, resulting in an area increase of top sheet11. Any fiber or filament that is at least partially drawable issuitable. Polymers suitable for the top sheet include polyolefins,polyesters, and polyamides. Suitable polymers include polypropylene,polyethylene, nylon, and polyethylene-teraphthalate. It will beunderstood that the foregoing list of materials is given by way ofexample only, and is not to be considered as limiting the scope of theinvention. Mixtures and blends and various polymers and copolymers canbe used if the mixture is drawable. Carded webs of mixtures of drawableand drawn fibers are suitable provided sufficient drawable fibers areavailable for drawing the web, as will be explained.

At least three types of non-woven webs are suitable for the disposablediaper top sheet 11. The first type of web is a melt-blown web ofpolymeric fibers. The melt-blown web is spun by blowing a line of spacedmolten synthetic filaments onto a collecting surface, as is taught byU.S. Pat. No. 4,526,733. This type of web consists of substantiallyundrawn filaments and fibers, the majority of which are fuse-bonded attheir cross points. The second type of web is a melt-spun web that isproduced by extruding a line of spaced molten synthetic filamentsthrough a spinnerette having a plurality of juxtaposed openings toprovide a plurality of spaced non-solidified filaments, as is taught inU.S. Pat. No. 3,509,009. The filaments are immediately seized on bothsides by heated gas currents and carried away without breaking off, sothat the filament diameters decrease within a distance of about 1 cmfrom the spinnerette, and so that the filaments are not fully drawn. Thefilaments are subsequently deposited on a foraminous moving wire inrandom orientation or winding entanglement. Bonding is accomplished bypassing the web through a pressure nip formed by two rolls, one of whichis heated and contains a plurality of raised points on its surface, asis described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,855,046. In the first and second typesof non-woven webs, it is preferred that the melt-blown and melt-spunfilaments have thicknesses of about 0.5 to 100 mu (microns). The thirdtype of web is a carded web consisting of discontinuous drawn orcontaining at least some partially drawn fibers or fully drawn fiberswhich are deposited in a predominantly longitudinal direction and bondedwith a suitable binder, or an apertured web such as those manufacturedby hydraulic entanglement as taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,021,284 and4,024,612. In applications for disposable garments such as disposablediapers, it is preferred that the basis weight of the top sheet iswithin the range of about 4 to 110 gm per square yard, the basis weightfor sheets and gowns having an upper range that may exceed 250 gm persquare yard.

The back sheet 3 is a drawable polymeric film that may be formed frompolymers such as polyolefins, polyesters, and polyamides, but the webmaterial is not limited to those materials. Films made frompolypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, and polyethyleneteraphthalate handlewell and are easily drawn at high production speeds. Mixtures and blendsof various polymers are also suitable as long as they are at leastpartially drawable. Copolymers of drawable resins also are suitable. Themixtures can include non-drawable elements as long as those materials donot interfere with the molecular orientation of the drawable material.The terms "fibers" and "filaments" are used interchangably and may bedrawable or undrawable.

The terms "top sheet," "facing," "back sheet," "webs," and "films" areused interchangably and can be interchanged in the various products.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, novel apparatus 19 for manufacturing thedisposable diaper 1 with elastic waist bands 41 is shown. As mentioned,the usual locations for elasticizing the diaper are in the waist regions5 and along the margins 17 of the cut out leg regions 9. In FIGS. 2 and3, for preliminary explanation purposes, only the waist regions areshown elasticized. Detailed descriptions of apparatus for manufacturingdisposable diapers with elastic leg bands 42 will be set forthpresently. In FIGS. 2 and 3, a parent or supply roll 23 supplies a web25 of material for the top sheet 11 (FIG. 1) to an assembly station 27of the apparatus 19. Reference numeral 29 (FIGS. 2 and 3) represents asupply roll of a web 31 of the material for the back sheet 3 (FIG. 1). Aconveyor 33 carries pre-shaped absorbent pads 35 having the general hourglass shape 13. The conveyor 33 supplies the pads 35 to the assemblystation 27 in timed relation to the movement of the webs 25 and 31 suchthat a predetermined spacing 37 exists between the waist regions ofadjacent pads.

The diaper making apparatus 19 includes a visco-elastic hot meltpressure sensitive adhesive applicator 39 that extends transverselyacross one of the webs; in FIGS. 2 and 3, the applicator is shownextending across the top sheet web 25. The applicator 39 is operated astaught and disclosed in co-pending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.530,544, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,384, to deposit a thin band 41 ofvisco-elastic hot melt pressure sensitive adhesive on the top sheet webat longitudinal midpoints of the spaces 37. The assembly station 27includes a pair of rolls 34 that pull the webs from the supply rolls 23and 29, and that press the visco-elastic hot melt pressure sensitiveadhesive bands 41 to the back sheet web to create a multi-component web43. (See FIG. 7).

The multi-component web 43 is transported downstream under the influenceof pull rolls 45 and 47. Roll 45 includes a pair of symmetrical knives49 that cut out the leg portions 9 from the top sheet 11 and back sheet3. (See FIG. 1).

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the composite web43 is transported downstream from the pull rolls 45 and 47 to a pair ofcooperating corrugating or pleating rolls 51. As best seen in FIGS. 4-6,each roll 51 has a transverse raised portion 53 that extends partiallyaround the roll circumference. The raised portions 53 define corrugatedsurfaces 55 that mesh with each other with only a small radial clearancetherebetween. The rolls 51 rotate together in the directions of arrows52 in timed relation to the movement of the composite web 43 such thatonly the web portion bearing the cured elastic band 41 passes betweenthe corrugations 55. The developed transverse length of the corrugatedsurfaces is substantially greater than the width of the web 43.Consequently, the elastic band 41 is stretched or expanded transverselyacross the web as it passes between the corrugated surfaces.Simultaneously, the top sheet web 25 and back sheet web 31 are drawntransversely across the corrugated surfaces. (See FIG. 8). A molecularorientation is thereby imparted to the top sheet and back sheet fibers,film, or filaments, resulting in a permanent elongation of both the topsheet and the back sheet.

Upon leaving the rolls 51, the elastic band 41 relaxes to approximatelyits original unstretched length. However, the top sheet web 25 and theback sheet web 31, being relatively inelastic and drawable, do notreturn to the original undrawn transverse widths. Rather, the web fibersand film form shirrs or gathers 57 and 59, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and10. FIG. 9 illustrates the configuration of the drawn facing and backingwebs after passing through the rolls 51 when the elastic band iscontinuously bonded on both sides thereof to the webs. In that case, theweb shirrs or gathers 57 are relatively numerous, small, and closelyspaced. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 10a, the configuration of the webfibers adjacent the relaxed elastic band is different if the elasticband is intermittently bonded to one or both webs. With intermittentbonding, the webs acquire more well-defined corrugated or pleated shapes59. As a further indication of the versatility of the present invention,the elastic bands may be bonded continuously on one side andintermittently on the other side to the respective webs. Upon stretchingand drawing in the rolls 51 and subsequent relaxing of the elasticbands, the drawn webs then take on the general shapes of FIG. 10b.Subsequent to leaving the rolls 51, the composite web 43 is severedtransversely along lines 61 (FIG. 3) to create the individual disposablediapers 1.

Further in accordance with the present invention, numerous satisfactoryalternate garment constructions are easily possible, thereby simplifyingmanufacturing apparatus design and also permitting utilization ofdifferent materials that from time to time may be more available oreconomical than others. For example, it is not necessary that both theback sheet 3 and the top sheet 11 be drawable. Either sheet may be of arelatively tough and substantially undrawable web material if that webmaterial is corrugated, folded, or pleated before it is joined to theelastic bands. Referring to FIG. 11, a substantially non-drawablepre-corrugated folded or pleated back sheet 63 is shown, although itwill be understood that the top sheet may be pre-corrugated rather thanthe back sheet. The backing or facing may be drawable but corrugatedwith substantially no draw. The backing or facing need not be drawnduring the corrugating step. The corrugations, folds, or pleats 65 areformed in the back sheet 63, and disposable diapers 1 having bothelastic waist bands 41 and elastic leg bands 42 are manufactured bymachinery 66 illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. Reference numeral 67indicates a parent or supply roll of the material that forms asubstantially non-drawable diaper back sheet 63. The back sheet materialis supplied to the machine assembly station 71 in the form of a web 69that is subsequently severed transversely to create the individual backsheets 63. Prior to reaching the assembly station 71, the web 69 passesbetween a pair of synchronized corrugating rolls 73 and 75. To each roll73, 75 is mounted a raised portion 77. Each raised portion 77 has apartial peripheral surface that is transversely corrugated withlongitudinally extending corrugations substantially identical to thecorrugated surfaces 55 of the rolls 51 previously described. The web 69is corrugated, but it is substantially undrawn, with longitudinallyextending corrugations or pleats 65 at intermittent longitudinalintervals along the web where the raised portions 77 of corrugatingrolls 73 and 75 mesh together.

The top sheet material is supplied to the assembly station 71 as a web79 from a supply roll 81. Located above the web 79 is a waist bandextrusion die 83 that extends transversely relative to the moving web.The extrusion die 83 is operated as taught in copending U.S. Pat.application Ser. No. 530,544, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,618,384, to deposit atransverse band of relaxed elastomeric material 41 intermittently alongthe moving web. Downstream from the waist band extrusion die are a pairof spaced leg band extrusion dies 85. The leg band extrusion dies 85 areoperated to deposit longitudinally extending bands of elastomericmaterial on the web. After passing the waist band and leg band extrusiondies, the web passes between a pair of temperature controlled chillrolls 87 that solidify the elastomeric bands 41 and 42 to solidstretchable elastic bands that are in a relaxed condition and adhered tothe web 79 by residual heat.

The web 79 next passes to a drawing station 88 in the form oflongitudinal incremental draw rollers 89 that preferably subject the webto drawing in the leg band areas. Additionally, rollers 89 stretch theelastic bands 42. While passing through the draw rollers 89, the elasticbands 41 are relaxed in the web transverse direction, but they remainunder longitudinal tension. Because the top sheet web is of a relativelyinelastic drawable material, the fibers become molecularly oriented atleast in the leg band 42 areas and thus permanently elongated as theypass between the rollers 89. After passing through the rollers 89, theexposed surfaces of the elastic bands 41 and 42 receive a layer ofadhesive 91 from adhesive applicators 93.

The absorbent pads 35 are supplied to the assembly station 71 as a thickweb 95 that passes between knife rolls 97 and 99. Mounted to knife roll99 is a first knife 101 that cuts the web 95 into discrete pads 35 and asecond knife 103 that shapes the pads with their generally hour glasscontour 13. The individual pads 35 are deposited onto a conveyor 33 fortransporting to the assembly station.

At the assembly station 71, the drawn top sheet web 79, pad 35, elasticbands 41 and stretched elastic bands 42 and corrugated but undrawn backsheet web 69 are joined together into a composite web 43. For thatpurpose, the webs and pad pass between rolls 75 and 105. Rolls 75, inaddition to the raised corrugated portion 77, also carries a pair ofknives 107 that create the bottom and top sheet leg cutouts 9, FIG. 11.As the webs and pad pass between the rolls 75 and 105, the bottomcorrugated web is bonded to the elastic bands 41 and 42 by means of theadhesive 91.

As best seen in FIG. 13, the various previously described components ofthe diaper manufacturing apparatus 66 are relatively located andoperated in timed relation to each other so that the waist band elasticmember 41 overlays the transverse corrugations 65 of the bottom web, andthe leg band elastic members 42 are located longitudinally along thediaper leg margins 17, and the pads 35 are located with the properspacings 37 between the pads.

As mentioned previously, the top sheet web 79 and the elastic bands 41and 42 remain under longitudinal tension after the top sheet web passesbeyond the incremental draw rollers 89. Continued longitudinal tensionis accomplished by means of draw rolls 109 and 111, which rotate withperipheral speeds set to prevent longitudinal relaxation of the bands 41and 42 as the stretched bands and drawn web fibers leave the drawrollers 89. Upon passing through the nip between the rolls 109 and 111,the waist and leg elastic bands relax. As previously described, thepermanently elongated top web fibers form gathers 57 or pleats 59 overthe elastic leg bands 42 upon being severed with knife 113 and relaxing.Although the elastic waist band 41 is in the relaxed condition when itis affixed to the top web 79, the waist band 41 is under longitudinaltension when it is affixed to the back sheet web by the adhesive 91.However, the longitudinal length of the elastic waist band is so shortthat shirring or pleat formation is negligible due to waist bandrelaxation in the longitudinal direction. On the other hand, since thewaist band 41 is applied to the back sheet web 69 over the corrugations65, subsequent longitudinal relaxation has no effect on the back sheetweb corrugations. As a result of the longitudinal relaxation of theelastic leg bands, the completed diaper 1 tends to contract in thelongitudinal direction and produce the gathers 59 or shirrs 57, FIGS. 9and 10. To sever the composite web 43 and thereby create the individualdiapers, the roll 109 is provided with a transverse knife 113. The knife113 is placed to sever the web at the longitudinal midpoints of theelastic waist bands 41, FIG. 13.

After severing with the knife 113, the elastic leg bands relax and formshirrs or gathers 57 in the elastic leg band areas. However, since theundrawn top sheet in the elastic waist band area is bonded to a relaxedwaist band that in turn is bonded to the corrugations of the back sheet63, the top sheet has received no lateral drawing to form shirrs orgathers laterally in the waist band area. This drawing can take placeupon application of the diaper to the wearer, in which case tensions canbe adjusted to fit the various hip and body shapes for conformability,comfort, and leakage control. Since diapers and other garments areusually made in only three or four sizes, it can readily be seen thatthere is a great advantage in being able to draw the garment fabrics toa comfortable fit on application to the wearer with a more conformableproduct. Alternately, this drawing can be performed with the use oflateral stretch rolls such as rolls 119 in FIGS. 14 and 15 prior torolls 109 and 111, or by other lateral stretch methods well known in theart.

Waist tabs 15 may then be applied to the waist section 5 of the diaperby known machinery, not illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. The completeddiaper is then transported by a conveyor 114 downstream for packagingand shipping.

The structure of the disposable diaper 1 as manufactured by theapparatus 66 of FIGS. 12 and 13 can be seen in detail in FIGS. 25-28. InFIGS. 25-28, it will be assumed that the diaper back sheet 63 is made ofa substantially undrawable material, and that the top sheet 11 is madeof one of the drawable materials described hereinabove. As previouslydiscussed, corrugations, folds, or pleats 65 are formed in the backsheet by the raised portions 77 of the rolls 73 and 75. As a result, thewidth of the back sheet in the waist areas 5 is reduced from theuncorrugated width W1 of the web 69 to a narrower width W2. As shown inFIGS. 25 and 26, the elastic bands 41 are interposed between the top andback sheets and are bonded thereto while in a relaxed condition. FIG. 27shows in detail the diaper in the transversely drawn condition. Suchdrawn condition can be produced by the machinery as described herein oron the body of the wearer. When the waist area is drawn transversely,the corrugated back sheet, which is substantially undrawable, expands tothe original width W1 of the back sheet supply web. Simultaneously, theelastic band is stretched. The drawable top sheet is drawn by drawrollers or upon application to the wearer such that the total top sheetwidth attains a width W3 that is greater than the original undrawn widthof the top sheet web 79. Upon removal of the drawing force, the elasticband relaxes. As a result, the back sheet returns to its corrugatedwidth W2, FIG. 28. The top sheet also returns to its original width W1.However, shirrs 57 or pleats are created in the portions of the topsheet bonded to the elastic band.

The advantage of great manufacturing flexibility of the presentinvention is further demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. Thediaper manufacturing apparatus 115 illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15 isgenerally similar to the apparatus 66 of FIGS. 12 and 13, except web 79passes through a drawing station 88 having combined lateral andlongitudinal incremental draw rolls that laterally draw the top sheet inthe waist area and laterally stretch the elastic waist bands andlongitudinally draw the top sheet at least in the leg band area andstretch the elastic leg bands 42. A web 69 of substantially non-drawableback sheet material is supplied to the assembly station 71 from a supplyroll 67. The back sheet web is intermittently corrugated by thecorrugated raised portions 77 of the rollers 73 and 75, as previouslydescribed. A web 79 of relatively inelastic drawable top sheet materialis supplied from parent roll 81. Extrusion die 83 deposits strips 41 ofelastomeric waist band material intermittently along the web 79.Extrusion dies 85 deposit leg band strips 42. Rolls 117 are temperaturecontrolled rolls; the elastic waist and leg bands are sealed to the web79 by residual heat and pressure sensitivity.

From the rolls 117, the web 79 passes through a drawing station 88composed of a pair of incremental draw rollers 119. The draw rollers 119are patterned for drawing the web only in selected areas. In theillustrated construction, the draw rollers are patterned such that thewaist bands 41 are stretched laterally, and the elasticized web in thediaper waist area 5 is drawn laterally, with the leg bands stretchedlongitudinally and the elasticized web in the crotch area being drawnlongitudinally. Upon leaving the drawing station, the waist band elasticmaterial 41 relaxes laterally but remains under longitudinal tensionwith lateral shirrs and gathers. The laterally relaxed elastic waistbands and surrounding drawn and shirred or gathered top sheet areattached to corrugated web 69 at assembly station 71, as are thelongitudinally stretched leg bands and the surrounding drawn top sheet.Alternately, the laterally stretched waist bands 41 and drawn top sheetweb 79 may be held under lateral tension by methods known in the art asthey leave the drawing station and are attached to a non-corrugated backsheet web 69. As previously discussed, the top sheet web 79 and the backsheet web 69 may be interchanged. The stretched elastic leg bands 42 andthe remainder of the web remain under longitudinal tension as they passthrough the rollers 111 and 109. The remainder of the manufacturingapparatus 115, including the mechanisms for supplying the absorbent pads35 and the adhesive applicators 93 as well as the apparatus for shapingthe various components and for severing the composite web 43 intoindividual diapers 1, are substantially identical to the respectivecomponents described previously with respect to FIGS. 12 and 13. Becausethe waist band 41 is applied to the back sheet web when relaxed in thetransverse direction, shirrs or pleats will be present in addition topre-formed corrugations 65 created by the corrugated rollers 73 and 75.

Turning to FIGS. 16 and 17, the embodiment of the diaper manufacturingapparatus 121 illustrated therein is generally similar to thosedescribed previously. The elastic waist band extrusion die 83 and theleg band extrusion dies 85 deposit the respective elastic bands on theweb 79 in the form of visco-elastic hot melt pressure sensitiveadhesive. As in the previously described embodiments, the leg band andwaist band are applied in the relaxed condition. Because of the pressuresensitive adhesive qualities of the extruded elastic element material,the apparatus 21 does not require means for applying a separate adhesiveto the elastic elements for bonding them to the backing web 69. Inapparatus 121, drawing of the top sheet web 79 and longitudinalstretching of the bands 41 and 42 are accomplished without requiringincremental draw rolls. Rather, longitudinal stretching and elongationis achieved by operating the non-stick fluoropolymer coated temperaturecontrolled rolls 87 at slower peripheral speeds than the peripheralspeeds of the rolls 75 and 105. Consequently, the web 79 islongitudinally drawn and fibers thereof are molecularly oriented toproduce a permanent elongation therein in the distance between the nipsof the chill rolls and the pair of rolls 75 and 105. At the same time,the elastic waist bands 41 and the elastic leg bands 42 arelongitudinally stretched between the two pairs of rolls. The peripheralvelocity of the rollers 109 and 111 is substantially the same as that ofthe roller pair 75 and 105. Consequently, the webs, elastic leg bands,and elastic waist bands remain under constant longitudinal tensionthroughout the distance between the rolls 75, 105 and 109, 111. Aspreviously discussed, the elastic waist bands may be stretched, and thetop sheet drawn upon application to the wearer, or lateral drawing maybe accomplished by apparatus well known in the art, such as tenterframes, prior to the web entering rolls 109 and 111. The remainder ofthe diaper manufacturing apparatus 121, including the mechanisms forsupplying the absorbent pads 35, pre-corrugating the back sheet web 69,shaping the components, severing the composite web 43 into individualdiapers 1, and transporting the finished diapers downstream from thecutoff knife roll 109 are substantially identical to those describedwith respect to FIGS. 12-15.

The diaper manufacturing apparatus 123 of FIGS. 18 and 19 is generallysimilar to those described previously. However, for the purpose ofincreasing the versatility of the present invention, the apparatus 123includes means for affixing the elastic leg and waist elements withseparate adhesives. Reference numeral 125 represents an applicator fordepositing a strip of adhesive on the web 79 that underlies the elasticleg bands 42 when die 85 operates to extrude the elastomeric leg bandextrusion. Similarly, applicator 127 lays down a strip of adhesive onthe web 79 that underlies the elastomeric waist band extrusion 41supplied by the waist band extrusion die 83. After the bands 41 and 42have passed between the chill rolls 87, and have cured, a film ofadhesive is deposited on the exposed sides of the bands by adhesiveapplicators 129 and 131, respectively. Upon passing between the rolls 75and 105, the back sheet web is bonded to the elastic waist and leg bandsby means of the adhesive deposited by the applicators 129 and 131.

In the diaper manufacturing apparatus 133 of FIGS. 20 and 21, the diaperelastic elements are supplied to the top sheet web 79 in roll form. Apair of parent rolls 135 supply endless ribbons 137 of relaxedelastomeric material which pass over temperature controlled roll 139. Aknife roll 141 is operated in synchronization with the rest of theapparatus 133 to sever the ribbons 137 into elastic leg bands 42 forbonding to the facing web 79 in the diaper leg regions 17. The exposedsides of the elastic leg band ribbons from the parent roll 135 arecoated with a layer of adhesive from a leg band adhesive applicator 143.The elastic leg bands 42 are affixed to the web 79 as the web andelastic leg bands pass through the nip between chill rollers 139 and 87.A parent roll 145 supplies a ribbon 147 of relaxed elastomeric material,which is trained over a chill roll 149. Knife roll 151 is timed to severthe ribbon 147 into the elastic waist band 41 for affixing to the web 79in locations that correspond to the waist portions 5 of the diaper 1.Adhesive applicator 153 coats the exposed side of the ribbon from theparent roll 145 for bonding to the web 79 as the ribbon and web passbetween the nip of the chill rolls 149 and 87. Subsequently, a secondadhesive applicator 155 deposits an adhesive on the elastic waist band41, and a second set of adhesive applicators 157 deposit adhesive on theelastic leg bands 42. Thereafter, the elastic waist band and elastic legbands are secured to the backing 69 at a assembly station 71.

The embodiment of the diaper manufacturing apparatus 159 of the presentinvention illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23 is generally similar to thosediscussed and described with respect to FIGS. 20 and 21. However, theelastic element for the elastic leg bands are supplied in roll form fromparent rolls 135 as visco-elastic hot melt pressure sensitive adhesivematerial on a backing if needed to prevent blocking. The relaxed ribbons137 are severed by the knife roll 141 as previously described, and theresultant leg bands 42 are affixed to the facing web 79 through theapplication of pressure in the nip of the non-stick fluoropolymer coated(Teflon) temperature controlled rolls 139 and 87. The elastic waistbands 41 are supplied in roll form from parent rolls 145 in the form ofan endless ribbon 147 of visco-elastic hot melt pressure sensitiveadhesive on a releasable backing if needed to prevent blocking The kniferoll 151 severs the ribbon 147 as the ribbon passes over chill roll 149.Pressure applied at the nip of the non-stick fluoropolymer coatedtemperature controlled rolls 139 and 87 affix the elastic waist band 41to the web 79. The elastic waist band and elastic leg band are securedto the backing web 69 through the application of pressure at thenon-stick fluoropolymer coated rolls 75 and 105.

It will be understood, of course, that the apparatus 123, 133, and 159illustrated for disclosing the various structures and methods pertainingto applying the relaxed elastic waist and leg bands to the webs 69 and79 may be used in any combination with apparatus 66 and 115 illustratedfor disclosing the various structures and methods pertaining to drawingand elongating the web. The design flexibility afforded by the presentinvention is further illustrated with respect to FIG. 24, wherein afurther embodiment of a non-drawable back sheet 63' is illustrated.Rather than limit the structure of the non-drawable back sheet tocorrugations or pleats, the back sheet may alternately be formed withnumerous transversely spaced perforations or slits 161 that extendlongitudinally from the ends of the waist sections 5. Preferably, thelength of the slits or perforations 161 is approximately the same as thewidth of the elastic waist bands 41. It will be understood that theperforations or slits may be formed in either the back sheet web 69 ortop sheet web 79 by known machinery in a manner generally similar tothat employed for forming the corrugations or pleats 65 in the backsheet 63. The elastic waist bands may be affixed to the slit portions ofthe back sheet 63, in a manner previously described for applying theelastic waist bands to the back sheet 63.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the waist band41 spaced from the severance line as shown in FIG. 29

FIG. 30 shows a supply roll 210 of top sheet material, a supply roll 212of backing sheet and a pair of corrugating rollers 214, 216. An extruder218 extrudes a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive onto a Tefloncovered roll 220. A knife roll 221 cuts discrete segments 222 ofadhesive which are deposited on the corrugated zone of the back sheet212 which are positioned between the pads 224 in the final assembly withthe top sheet 210.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance withthe invention, a diaper with elasticized waist bands that fullysatisfies the objects, aims, and advantages set forth above. While theinvention has been described in conjunction with specific embodimentsthereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of theforegoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spiritand broad scope of the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A disposable garment comprising a drawable top sheet, a backsheet, a moisture absorbent pad interposed between the top sheet andback sheet, and at least one elastic element affixed at least to the topsheet in a substantially relaxed state, and wherein the top sheet in atleast the areas of elastic elements attachment thereto have a higherdegree of molecular orientation than adjacent areas, said areas ofattachment being shirred or gathered as a result of drawing ormolecularly orienting the top sheet after the elastic is attached. 2.The disposable garment of claim 1 wherein the top sheet is comprised ofa melt spun web of drawable fibers.
 3. The disposable garment of claim 1wherein the elastic element affixed to the top sheet is comprised of aself adhering elastic.
 4. The disposable garment of claim 1 wherein thedraw top sheet is comprised of a partially molecularly oriented web. 5.The disposable garment of claim 1 wherein the top sheet is comprised ofpartially drawn polymeric fibers, filaments, or apertured film havingmolecular orientation values in the range of 0.05% to 85% of the maximumdraw to which said polymeric fibers, filaments or apertured film can besubjected.
 6. The disposable garment of claim 5 wherein the molecularorientation values are in the range of 5% to 45% of the maximum draw. 7.The disposable garment of claim 2 wherein the drawable back sheet iscomprised of a partially molecularly oriented web.
 8. The disposablegarment of claim 1 wherein the top s is comprised of a melt blown web ofdrawable fibers.
 9. The disposable garment of claim 8 wherein top sheetcontains drawable melt spun filaments
 10. The disposable garment ofclaim 9 wherein the filaments are drawable in a longitudinal direction.11. The disposable garment of claim 9 wherein the filaments are drawablein a transverse direction.
 12. The disposable garment of claim 9 whereinthe drawable filaments are transverse at predetermined angles to alongitudinal direction.
 13. The disposable garment of claim 1 wherein atleast a portion of the top sheet is drawn to approximately 11/4 to 6times its undrawn length.
 14. The disposable garment of claim 1 whereinthe top sheet is drawn in predetermined discrete areas.
 15. Thedisposable garment of claim 1 wherein the top sheet is drawn inpredetermined discrete areas.
 16. The disposable garment of claim 1wherein the disposable garment further comprises at least two fasteningtapes.
 17. The disposable garment of claim 3 wherein the basis weight ofthe top sheet is within the range of approximately 4 to 300 grams persquare yard.
 18. The disposable garment of claim 9 wherein the drawablemelt blown fibers and/or the melt spun filaments have a thickness ordiameter of about 0.5 to 200 microns.
 19. The disposable garment ofclaim 1 wherein the dimensions of the top sheet adjacent the elasticelement are increased by a combination of drawing the top sheet fibersand realigning the top sheet fibers.
 20. The garment of claim 1whereupon fitting the garment to a wearer the elastic element isstretched and the top sheet is again drawn and molecularly oriented toprovide a comfortable and conforming fit.
 21. The disposable garment ofclaim 1 wherein the back sheet waist margins contain numeroustransversely spaced perforations.
 22. The disposable garment of claim 13wherein the top sheet is drawn by molecular orientation to increase itsarea from approximately 1.5 to 12 times the undrawn area.
 23. Thedisposable garment of claim 22 wherein the top sheet is drawable in morethan one direction.
 24. A disposable garment comprising a top sheet, adrawable back sheet having a length and a width, an elongated moistureabsorbent pad having pad ends and side edges interposed between the tosheet and back sheet, and at least one elastic element affixed at leastto the back sheet when in a relaxed condition extending along a pad endpartially spanning the width of said back sheet to form at least oneelasticized area on the back sheet, wherein at least the back sheetelasticized area possesses a higher degree of molecular orientation thanadjacent back sheet areas as a result of drawing or molecularlyorienting the back sheet after the elastic is attached to the top sheet.25. The disposable garment of claim 24 wherein the elastic elementaffixed to the back sheet is comprised of a self adhering elastic. 26.The disposable garment of claim 24 wherein the back sheet is comprisedof a partially drawn polymeric web having molecular orientation valuesin the range of 0.05% to 85% of the maximum draw to which said polymericweb can be subjected.
 27. The disposable garment of claim 26 wherein themolecular orientation values are in the range of 5% to 45% of themaximum draw.
 28. The disposable garment of claim 24 wherein at least aportion of the back sheet is drawn to approximately 11/4 to 6 times itsundrawn length.
 29. The disposable garment of claim 24 wherein the backsheet is drawn in predetermined discrete areas.
 30. The garment of claim24 whereupon fitting the garment to a wearer the elastic element isstretched and the top sheet and back sheet are again drawn andmolecularly oriented to provide a comfortable and conforming fit. 31.The disposable garment of claim 24 wherein the back sheet waist marginscontain numerous transversely spaced perforations.
 32. The disposablegarment of claim 24 wherein the elastic element attached to the backsheet is comprised of an elastic pressure sensitive adhesive.
 33. Adisposable garment comprising a top sheet, a back sheet, a moistureabsorbent pad interposed between the top sheet and back sheet, and atleast one strip of self-adhering elastic material adhered to at leastthe top sheet when in the relaxed state to produce an elasticized areaof the top sheet, the self-adhering strip being stretched and the topsheet should be drawn at least in the elasticized area being drawn topermanently increase the area of the elasticized area.
 34. Thedisposable garment of claim 33 wherein the elastic element affixed tothe top sheet is comprised of a self adhering elastic.
 35. A flexibledrawing sheet comprising a plurality of elastic elements attached to thesheet in a relaxed state and being bonded thereto to elasticizepredetermined isolated areas of the sheet, the sheet at least in theisolated areas being molecularly oriented after the elastic is attachedto increase the areas of the elasticized areas of said sheet so that theelasticized areas can be expanded to a greater length when the elasticis stretched than the length when the elastic is relaxed.
 36. Thedrawable flexible web of claim 36 wherein the elastic elements attachedthereto in isolated areas are comprised of self adhering elasticcompositions.
 37. A garment comprising a top sheet composed of fibers, aback sheet, a moisture absorbent pad interposed between the top sheetand back sheet and at least one elastic element attached to the to sheetwhen in the relaxed state, said elastic subsequently being stretched toincrease the areas of attachment tot eh top sheet by drawing the topsheet fibers.
 38. The garment of claim 37 where less than 5% of the topsheet fibers and/or filaments are drawable and molecularly orientable.39. The garment of claim 37 whereby transverse stretching of the elasticelement realigns the predominantly longitudinal fibers.